Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: RGKulas on September 01, 2015, 11:04:00 AM
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Which guy are you?
I dispose of blades or heads when dull or use them for practice
KME sharpening system
Lansky sharpening systemem
Work Sharp system
I sharpen them by hand/eye with no fixture
I have a homemade sharpening system
I suck at sharpening my heads and Im looking for a tool
I don’t sharpen them, they come sharp enough
Other
Im starting this thread asking how you accomplish this important task since razor sharp heads are a must have for the serious bowhunter. A lot of people lack the ability to put an edge on a broadhead and it seems plenty are looking for an easy way.
3 bladed fixed heads (re. montec, hellrazoers, Wensel woodsman, Bodkin ect) are pretty easy to sharpen. If you can roll a toy car on a countertop you can sharpen a 3 blade head. 4 blade can be challenging unless you can disassemble them and reduce them to 4 individual or at least 2 blades but it seems people struggle with sharpening single or two bladed heads.
Lanski and KME and worksharp systems are effective but penny pinching bowhunters done seem eager to part with their money for a quality package so they wing it, dont sharpen the heads or simply dispose of the heads/blades and buy more or they use those dull heads/blades for practice.
The Lansky package is about $40
KME's package starts at about $50
Spyderco's system is about $55
Worksharp is about $70
all the above are quality and well worth the money (especially if you struggle to keep a consistent blade angle and be able to replicate that angle)
Im kicking around the idea of creating a tool for sharpening blades/heads (for replacement blades and/or 2 blade fixed blade heads) that would be simple to use (as simple as the KME or gliding a fixed 3 bladed head on a sharpening stone without worying about blade angle). Im looking for input from bowhunters. What are your thoughts on accomplishing this task. What would you be looking for in such a device?
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File, stone, strop all by hand no clamp ect. It gets them shaving sharp with a bit of elbow grease
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I shoot three blade heads. I sharpen by hand/eye, and like you said, It's pretty easy. I shot two blade heads years ago, and sharpened them by hand too.
I'm sorry can't help you with any ideas. I've never used any kind of sharpening system, or put any thought into it.
Bob
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Originally posted by Jakeemt:
File, stone, strop all by hand no clamp ect. It gets them shaving sharp with a bit of elbow grease
Same here.
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I use a lansky for two blades. I have some bodkins for small game and simply glide them on a stone. For hunters using three blades on big game, it is effective to sharpen them with progressively finer grades of wet or dry on a thickish piece of glass.
Not really looking for a new or different system, but if I change it would be to the KME.
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Single cut file, and leather strop, very nasty serrated edge that does a number.
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KME all the way for sharpening my Muzzy Phantoms or Palmer Extreme Cuts.
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file and stone by eye.
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Zwickey eakimo. I use a file and break the burr off on my pant leg. Like anything it takes (took) a learning period, but now that I have it down its fast and effective.
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http://tbwpodcast.com/video-39-stropping-for-razor-sharp-edges/ The blue jean final strop is amazing. I'm not a good sharpener but I am now getting them razor sharp.
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Kme then razorsharp cardboard wheel on my bench grinder for two blades.
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By hand
Here is a video I made
http://youtu.be/MKa-XTbmXkE
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I use the Lansky. For convex heads like Simmons I modded a 3-sided Jewelstik to take a guide rod so I can use it with the clamp.
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I've been using a 12" file and cardboard for my 3 blades and a Lansky for my 2 blades. The stones with the Lansky are getting old after 15 years of use, so I will probably replace the whole system with a KME knife sharpener.
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Originally posted by Brianlocal3:
By hand
Here is a video I made
http://youtu.be/MKa-XTbmXkE
You produced very good results even if your blade angle was sort of all over the place. The guys I talk to cant master freehand sharpening, dont want to spend big $$$ on a device or machine so they wing it or just by new heads or replacement blades or hunt with less than sharp heads all the while wishing there were an easier way to make it fool proof and repeatable and low cost.
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Mill cut bastard file, I keep it in my quiver so even if I miss I retouch it up in the field. and for that extra special between field time I use a spiderco sharpmaker to make the edge beyond the razor the file makes when I am back at camp.
And the file gets it plenty sharp, I was just out after deer and got a shot at a yote, I missed and got my arrow out or a pebbly riverbed. Well I few minutes later I hit it with the file and decided to see if it would shave hair. A swipe along a patch and it bit into the skin and I bled for about 5 minutes. never even felt it cut. That's sharp enough for the job.
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Now, I most often use KME, but I still do it free hand sometimes. I have found it very useful to lessen the pressure as the sharpening sequence goes along.
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Kme broadhead sharpening jig on a large stone then finish up on leather strop.
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I have developed my own systems.
For two blade: I sharpen with a high quality chain saw raker file (the raker file is the flat one with the smooth edges) file to establish the angle and get rid of the factory grind. Then I finish with a Smith tool.
For three blade: I sharpen two blades at a time with a chain saw raker file and a count-down method. Then i steel the blades two at a time with a count-down method. The raker file edges are smooth and make a darn good butcher's steel.
All of my files have home-made handles in them so I don't slice myself. Don't ask how I thought of that. :rolleyes:
All of my broad heads will shave after the above methods. And the tools are very inexpensive. :archer2:
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3 blade see a file and a crock stick. Two blade see either a KME or a RADA sharpener. For less then $10 the RADA can't be beat.
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Originally posted by RGKulas:
Originally posted by Brianlocal3:
By hand
Here is a video I made
http://youtu.be/MKa-XTbmXkE
You produced very good results even if your blade angle was sort of all over the place.. [/b]
RG,
⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️This⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ Is why I made the video, and why I said in the video "it's not rocket science, find the angle you like and go with it"
I do not over complicate it, just grid until a burr is formed, remove it, start heavy and work lighter on pressure. In the end, it takes a feel that only experience can teach you. Eventually you learn it, "instinctive" sharpening I guess lol
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By hand, same as my knives and all other sharp tools. I have all the time I could ask for.
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Originally posted by halfseminole:
By hand, same as my knives and all other sharp tools. I have all the time I could ask for.
It's good to hear from you Ed. :thumbsup: I've been wondering how you were doing.
Bob
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Originally posted by Jakeemt:
File, stone, strop all by hand no clamp ect. It gets them shaving sharp with a bit of elbow grease
Same here, VPAs and woodsmens three blades, pretty easy to do those following Charlie Lambs video, and tradtusker did one too. Helped a lot.
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Butcher steel. On 2 blade Simmons Safaris(200gr.) -Simmons Tigersharks (175 gr) and Vpa 2 blade (250 gr). Finished on a ceramic rod. :thumbsup:
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2 blades, Simmons & Grizzlys, Jewel stick and strop. Just finished 6 broadheads plus 3 knives. Now I have several bald spots on my legs checking. I think they are much smoother than my wifes legs! :biglaugh:
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For 3 blade heads I use a flat bastardized file and cardboard .
With 2 blade heads I use the little Shaver system and cardboard .
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I have a wooden dowel about 6-8" long. I then drilled hole and glued insert in the end. I use a file if the edge is really bad, then I sharpen it on a dmt stone just like I do with my knives. Works fine for me. Note, I use two blade Zwickeys!
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KME Sharpening System for me!
Specifically, the KME knife sharpener for my German Kinetic broadheads.
I am the guy who sucks at sharpening things! I used to shoot Thunderhead broadheads, because I thought that razor sharp chisel point head would be better than a not so sharp cut on contact head.
Then I found the KME. I have it set for the angle of my GK broadheads, and it does not move! It is only for my broadheads.
I still hate sharpening broadheads, but know it is what has to be done if I want to bowhunt.
If you can come up with something simpler, that works as effectively, I would be all ears!
Bisch
Bisch
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sharpen everything by hand/eye,file, stone and strop..even use a stone on Simmons heads or wheely sharpner..
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X2 indianalongbowshooter! Mist be something in the water :biglaugh:
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I shoot two blade and three blades. For my two blade heads is predominantly Ribtek 190s and 160s...I hand sharpen with a mill file only. For the Grizzly Kodiak single bevels I started using my Lansky after talking to Ron at KME....but recently starting doing them with hand file as well. Shot my bear with the hand sharpened Grizzly Kodiak...through top of shoulder, through bones and ribs, out opposite armpit...bear down in less than 10 seconds running.
For my 3 blades...originally used Snuffers but now Grizzly Instincts...same hand mill file by Nichols...but I lay the file across two blades at same time and stroke them.
All of them I strop on leather...quiver, side of boot, belt...whatever I got. I will touch them up with a Lansky carbide sharpener while afield if needed and then pull out file in camp.
By end of season my 190s are more like 175s...hahaha
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I've used most of the methods over the years but now only use the KME broadhead sharpener on 2 blades.I also have the KME knife sharpener and it also works very well.
3 blades,I sharpen on wet or dry sandpaper,over a hard,flat surface.
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For those folks using the KME...did you purchase the entire kit or just the jig and a stone..? Kits look to be pretty expensive online. Wouldn't mind trying one though as I don't care for sharpening broad heads and have never been very good at it.
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File, jewel stick, leather strop, and as of now finishing up on my jeans. Just takes a little practice. I can get my woodsman's and my Zwickey Eskimos shavin sharp.
I'm running out of Body hair to test for sharpness :biglaugh:
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Originally posted by dnurk:
For those folks using the KME...did you purchase the entire kit or just the jig and a stone..? Kits look to be pretty expensive online. Wouldn't mind trying one though as I don't care for sharpening broad heads and have never been very good at it.
I bought the knife sharpening kit, because after talking to Ron, he advised that the knife sharpener would be better for the curved edge of my GK broadheads. He was right, and my broadheads are now sharper than ever!
Bisch